Critical thinking while reading is useful in determining if a word is used for its denotative or connotative meaning.

Denotation refers to the literal (primary dictionary) meaning of the word.

Connotation refers to a figurative meaning based on associations or emotional connections with the word.

Examples:

1) Billy owns a pet snake that he keeps in an aquarium filled with sand.

2) Billy, the lying snake, tricked all of his friends into believing he was really sick.

In the first sentence, snake is used as a literal snake, the animal. This is an example of denotation.

In the second sentence, snake is used as a comparison of Billy to a snake, associating him with something evil or dangerous. This is an example of connotation.

Look at the following two examples and determine which example is denotative and which is connotative.

1) Since Sara and Jane had their big argument, Jane had been cold towards Sara and her friends.

2) Jane forgot her warm red mittens at school and was cold during her whole walk home.

Is the use of the word cold in sentence 1 an example of denotation or connotation?

Is the use of the word cold in sentence 2 an example of denotation or connotation?

Understanding the difference between connotation and denotation is important to critical reading and figuring out the context of a text.

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